Abstract
The present study determines the effect of an aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos fruits on serum and tissue lipids in experimental diabetes. Albino Wistar rats were rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal. administration of streptozotocin (45mgkg(-1)). Serum and tissue lipids such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids and phospholipids were elevated in diabetic rats. Oral administration of A marmelos fruit extract at doses of 125 and 250mgkg(-1) to diabetic rats twice daily for I month led to a significant lowering of these lipids in diabetic rats. The effect exerted by the fruit extract at a dose of 250mgkg-1 was greater than that of the dose of 125mgkg(-1) or of glibenclamide (300 mug kg(-1)). The results of this study demonstrate that an aqueous A marmelos fruit extract exhibits an antihyperlipidaemic effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.